Some Summer Days

Wow, how Summer has flown by! I have to say that this Summer has been one of the best Summer’s in my life. I haven’t even done anything so fantastic either. I think it’s because since moving, I’ve actually experienced a pretty pronounced seasonal change. Since moving to the East Bay, I have felt the differences in Winter, Spring and now Summer temperatures. The temperatures around town have really heated up! I think the warmest day was 90 – 93 degrees. I like warm days. I like hot days. I love the sun. I don’t, however, like the reactions I have to the sun … I’m kind of allergic. I actually get an allergic reaction on my skin, I easily over heat and I sweat easily and lots. (SIGH). This does not change my love for the sun. I just have to be very careful when I’m under it. What’s funny is that my muse, my girl, Monchichi, is the very same way!

Monchi Too Hot

Since my skin is generally very sensitive, I can’t even use regular sunscreen. I can only get the topical stuff with way less chemical ingredients. That’s all fine and good but that means two things: I don’t have many choices when it comes to buying and since it’s topical (not absorbable) it stays pasty white on my skin. So, yeah, a really nice look. Surprisingly, what’s helped a lot is a straw hat!

While I’ve always been into wearing hats, the straw hat has been a godsend. Let’s just say: Life. Saver. I’ve been wearing it since Spring and almost every weekend this Summer. Feeling so lucky to have found it and even more glad I bought it because a good affordable hat isn’t the easiest to find believe it or not.

not the most clear picture, but you get the idea…

The hat is from Roxy and I bought it at the Sport Basement for between $30 and $40.00. This is a wide brim hat, very breathable because there’s no lining.

This is an older one, it’s a Dakine hat, but it’s a smaller brim hat and it’s lined with cotton, making it too warm for me to wear in hot weather. Too bad.

you can see this one is not as wide, therefore less protection, and fabric lining.

With the way I’ve been using the Roxy hat, I’m considering buying a higher quality hat with a bit more refined of a look. Here’s what I’m considering . Both are panama hats.

Capas Blues Brothers Panama Straw Hat Fedora

Stetson Forty-Eight Panama Fedora

I’ve been doing other things this Summer besides finding excuses to wear this hat. One of the best things that happened this Summer was being promoted to the next level up in my Aikido training. I’m now on what would generally be brown belt. In the Aikido I practice we don’t have belt colors. It’s just white and then black and then white again. This is after about 8 years of training…so, it’s not a quick thing.

I also cut my own hair for the first time. Well, bangs, to be specific. They’re side swept bangs. You know how you can get tired of your hair looking bad? I couldn’t even wait for the hair stylist. Sometimes, you just gotta take matters into your own hands. Thanks to YouTube, I didn’t have to go at it alone, alone.Rosebud143 helped me. “How to Cut Perfect Side Swept Bangs at Home” https://youtu.be/G-4rQmE8MJs